South Florida WWII veteran receives Florida Medal of Merit from Gov. Ron DeSantis

James Weir, 99, received a Florida Medal of Merit from Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday for his D-Day service on June 6, 1944, on the beaches of Normandy.

Gov. Ron DeSantis presented a Medal of Merit on Tuesday to a South Florida WWII veteran who participated in the fighting in Normandy on D-Day 80 years ago.

“It is important that we and subsequent generations recognize what they did that day, that we recognize that freedom hung in the balance at that time,” DeSantis said at the end of a news conference at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami. “For our living D-Day veterans, I’m going to award the Medal of Merit, which is Florida’s medal for exceptional meritorious service to either the state or the nation.”

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James Weir, 99, a Miami-Dade resident, received his medal Tuesday. Weir joined the U.S. Navy in August 1943 and served in the European and Asian theaters.

“On June 6, 1944, James crossed the English Channel aboard a Navy LCT [landing craft tank] to deliver tanks and troops on the beaches of Normandy,” DeSantis said as he presented the award.

Weir also fought in the liberation of the Philippines and served in the occupational forces in Japan.

“We’re going to make sure that not only people right now, but the schoolkids going forward, will be taught about the heroism embodied by you and your fellow sailors and soldiers and Marines,” DeSantis told Weir.

In response, Weir said, “I guess we fought for one of the best countries in the world, and especially I’m proud to live in the best state in the country.”